How to remove the "Space backgrounds pictures" browser hijacker

What kind of software is Space backgrounds pictures?

While investigating deceptive webpages, our research team discovered the "Space backgrounds pictures" browser extension. It is promoted as a tool that displays space-themed browser wallpapers.

However, our analysis revealed that Space backgrounds pictures is a browser hijacker. It makes alterations to browser settings in order to generate redirects to the spacenewtab.com fake search engine.

Space backgrounds pictures browser hijacker overview

Browser-hijacking software assigns the addresses of promoted sites as browsers' homepages, default search engines, and new tab/window URLs.

Space backgrounds pictures modifies browsers in this manner as well. Hence, with this extension installed: new browser tabs/windows opened and search queries entered into the URL bar – would result in redirects to the spacenewtab.com website.

It is pertinent to mention that browser hijackers commonly use persistence-ensuring techniques to complicate their removal and prevent users from recovering their browsers.

Fake search engines usually cannot provide search results, so they redirect to legitimate Internet search websites (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.). However, at the time of research, spacenewtab.com redirected to another illegitimate search engine – nearbyme.io. While this site can generate search results, they are inaccurate and include sponsored, unreliable, deceptive, and potentially malicious content.

Furthermore, Space backgrounds pictures spies on users' browsing activity. Information of interest may include: visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so forth. The gathered information can then be shared with or sold to third-parties.

To summarize, the presence of browser-hijacking software like Space backgrounds pictures on devices may result in serious privacy issues, system infections, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Space backgrounds pictures
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Space backgrounds pictures
Supposed Functionality	Space-themed browser wallpapers
Promoted URL	spacenewtab.com
Detection Names (spacenewtab.com)	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (spacenewtab.com)	172.67.177.34
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling).
Damage	Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Browser hijacker examples

Lookup for Wikipedia, Motivational Quotes, and Wingman Clock are merely some examples of browser hijackers that we have investigated recently.

Browser-hijacking software usually appears legitimate and harmless. It also tends to offer a wide variety of useful and advantageous functionalities. However, these functions seldom operate as advertised, and in most cases – they do not work at all. Note that even if a piece of software operates as promised – that is not definitive proof of either legitimacy or safety.

How did Space backgrounds pictures install on my computer?

Browser hijackers can be bundled (packed together) with regular programs. The risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system is increased by downloading from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and third-party sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and by rushing through installation processes (e.g., ignoring terms, skipping steps, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).

Browser-hijacking software can also have "official" promotional pages, and it is commonly endorsed on scam websites. Users primarily access such webpages via redirects generated by sites that use rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, mistyped URLs, intrusive ads, or installed adware.

Additionally, intrusive advertisements proliferate browser hijackers. Once clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We highly recommend researching software before downloading/installing it. Furthermore, all downloads must be performed from official and verified channels. When installing, it is essential to read terms, explore possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of all additional apps, extensions, etc.

We advise caution while browsing since fraudulent and malicious content usually appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, while intrusive ads may look ordinary/harmless – they redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.).

Should you keep experiencing such advertisements and/or redirects, check the system and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Space backgrounds pictures, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Permissions asked by Space backgrounds pictures browser hijacker:

Websites promoting Space backgrounds pictures browser hijacker:

Appearance of spacenewtab.com redirecting to the nearbyme.io fake search engine (GIF):

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Space backgrounds pictures?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Space backgrounds pictures browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove spacenewtab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove spacenewtab.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Space backgrounds pictures browser hijacker removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Space backgrounds pictures browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate "Space backgrounds pictures" and other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Space backgrounds pictures", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.spacenewtab.com) below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "spacenewtab.com", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the spacenewtab.com redirect, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate "Space backgrounds pictures", as well as all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable "Space backgrounds pictures", remove hxxp://spacenewtab.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with spacenewtab.com redirect removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the spacenewtab.com redirect, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users to visit spacenewtab.com website?

Cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) profit through redirects to sites like spacenewtab.com.

Is visiting spacenewtab.com a threat to my privacy?

Most likely, yes. Websites like spacenewtab.com tend to collect (and sell) information relating to their visitors.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are primarily spread via bundled installers, deceptive promotional webpages, online scams, freeware and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive ads.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Space backgrounds pictures browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan systems and eliminate detected browser-hijacking apps. It is noteworthy that manual removal (unaided by security software) might not be an ideal solution, especially when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. What is more, browser-hijacking software might be able to deny access to removal-related settings and/or undo user-made changes. Therefore, it is crucial to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.

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